Paris, Day One (and Two)

Hi, everyone! 

I'm writing to you from the lobby of our hotel in Paris, as we're preparing for our first full day in the City of Lights.  We've discovered that if you want to actually see the aforementioned lights, you have to stay up late--perhaps as late as 10 PM.

Monday and Tuesday ran together for most of us, who found it nearly impossible to do more than sneak a series of short naps on our flight from Washington to London.  Once in Paris, we hit the ground running.  We checked into our hotel and, from there, set off for Sainte Chapelle and the cathedral of Notre Dame.

This expedition required us to brave the Paris Metro.  Imagine 37 sleep-deprived Americans attempting to change trains, change lines, and head off in the correct direction on the correct train.  Sound difficult?  We managed to do it without incident several times.

Sainte Chapelle and Notre Dame almost deprive description.  They are both incredibly beautiful.  Even on a rainy, cloudy day like yesterday, the stained glass windows glowed in a rainbow of colors. 

I live in Williamsburg, where it's possible to see buildings that are much older than those most Americans can see on a daily basis. The Wren Building on the campus of The College of William & Mary is over 300 years old.

Sainte Chapelle and Notre Dame are almost three times that old.

We were struck by the immense amount of loving labor that went into the construction of each of these breathtaking projects.  Does anyone, anywhere, care about anything this much any more?

I'll have to be brief for now.  In eight minutes, we will be boarding our tour bus and setting off.  The Louvre awaits us!  We should have time to post some pictures soon.

All of us are well and ready for an exciting day. 

Au revoir for now,
Chris